Container



Patented Oct. 13, 1936 Henry M. Nicholls, Chicago, 111., assignor te American'Can Company, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New Jersey Application November 26, i935, serial No. 51,689

4 Claims.

l The present invention relates to containers having hinged pouring spouts for dispensing the contentsof the container and has particular reference to devices for locking the spout in closed position against accidental .opening during shipment and storage of .the'containen An object of theinvention is the provision in a container hinged pouring spout, of devices for locking the spout in a closed position during shipmentand storage of the container, wherein ithe locking devices are, embodied in the spout, being movable with the latter as it is swung into open and closedY positions and being of such a design as to permit unrestricted flow of. the container contents through the spout when it is in open dispensing position.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container closed with a cover having a pouring spout embodying the instant invention, the pouring spout being shown in closed and locked position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail of the upper end of the container and a part of the cover showing the pouring spout in section and in closed and locked position, the view being taken substantially along the line 2 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view-similar to Fig. 2 showing the pouring spout closed and the locking devices withdrawn from spout locking position;

Fig. 4 is a View of. the under side of the container cover and the pouring spout showing the latter in closed and locked position, being illustrated as if viewed substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper end of the container illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the container tilted and the pouring spout open and in pouring position as when dispensing the container contents.

A preferred embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing includes a container consisting of a tubular body I I closed at its ends by a bottom closure I2 and a top closure or cover I3. The container may be utilized to hold granular or pulverized material such as for example, salt, sugar, spices and the like which are preferably adapted to be dispensed through a trapezoidal shaped opening or aperture I5 provided in the cover top wall.

A pouring spout I6 having a top wall I 8 is hing- I* edly disposed inthe opening I5 and is adapted to be moved intol an open or dispensing position as illustrated in Fig. 5 or into a closed position as shown in Fig. 1. The spout is connected to the cover top wall by a hinge including a hinge lug I 9 which extends from the rear edge of the Vspout wall and which surrounds a pintle or staple 2| carriedin the cover top wall adjacent the rear edge of the aperture. The forwarol'end of the spouttop wall is formed with a; lip or finger extension 22 which overlies the cover wall when the spout is in closed position and` acts as a stop for limitingthe closing movement of I the spout.V

The spout is also provided with integrally formed resilient side wall wings 23 Ywhich extend through the aperture I5 and have lug projections 24 which engage against the under side of the cover top wall when the spout is open to properly locate the spout in pouring position. This is a usual form of pouring spout often used in dispensing containers .of this kind and well known in the art.

The spout I6 is provided with a locking device mounted to swing bodily with the spout and which consists of a at slide plate 26 carried on the under side of the spout top wall I8. The plate is supported on pairs of spaced guide lugs 21 struck out from the spout top wall and arranged along opposite longitudinal edges of the slide. A lug 28 embossed on the plate extends up through a slot 29 formed in the spout top wall and provides a finger hold accessible from the outside of the container when the spout is closed, for sliding the plate back and forth longitudinally of the spout top wall along the guide lugs 27. The rear edge of the slide is provided with a clearance recess 3| (Fig. 4) which permits full travel of the slide on its back stroke without interference with the hinge lug I9.

At its forward end the slide plate is bent downwardly providing a sloping'latch end 32. This latch end is adapted to engage under the cover wall adjacent the edge of the aperture l5 at the point where the spout extension 22 engages the top of the cover wall. 'I'he latch holds the pouring spout against accidental opening when the latter is closed and when the slide is moved into its forward or locking position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. A reverse movement of the slide withdraws its latch end 32 from engagement with the cover wall as shown in Fig. 3 and hence permits the usual opening of the spout.

Such a locking slide provides a simple, compact and reliable locking device which may be used in place oiY temporary devices such as stickers,

labels, staples, ete., for holding the spout closed during shipment and storage of the container and may Valso be used by theY ultimate consumer for locking the spout closed against accidental opening when the container is not in use. Y Y

It is thought that the invention andmany of its'attendant .advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and itwill be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,

construction, and arrangement of the parts with- Vout departing AVfrom the spirit and scope of the invention or 'sacrificing all of its material V'aci-.- vantages, the form hereinbefore ,described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim.: Y Y

-1. A container provided with a Wall having an aperture for dispensing the contents of said container, a' pouring spout mounted forV swinging movement through said aperture and adaptedY g when in one position .toV close the latter-,and a j movable member carried by the spout for .engage- VYment with the` container wall adacent the edge of the aperture when the spout is closed for hold- Ving the 'latter in containerelosing positionand I against accidental `opening during shipment and storage.

2. A :container provided `with a wall having an aperture for ldispensing the contents of said container, a pouring spout hingedly connected to said wall and adapted when in .one position to close the aperture and to engage against `one side Vof said Wall, and a 'slide carried by the spout .and

` slidabie into a position engaging the opposite side connected to said .container wall for closingsaid .Y

aperture when the spout in closed position, an extension of said'top wall engaging against one side of said container wail Vto limit the closing movement of said spout, and a member carried by ,said spout top wall and movable into and out of engagement with the vopposite side of said container wah when lthe spout is closed for holding Vthe latter in container closing position and against accidental opening during shipment and storage. Y

4.A pouring spout adapted to seat into and close a dispensing aperture in a wall of a `container, said spout comprising a top wall hingedly connected to said roo'ntaimer wah for 4closing said aperture when the spout is in closed position, an extension of said top wall engaging against one side of said container wail to iimit the closingY movement of said spout, a spoutflocking slide carried by said spout top -wall and movable with said .spout as a unit, and meansassociated with said siide for moving the latter independently of and relative to said spoutior` engaging `the slide under said'container wall when the `spout is closed in .order to lock said spout in :container ciosing position. v

. HENRY M. NICHOLLS. 

